Order of Service, October 27, 2019

DAYS OF THE DEAD

Service Leader: Amy Stauber

Service Assistants: Larry Stauber,

Rachel Melcher and Dayan Martinez

Introduction

Hymn: #188 Come, Come, Whoever You Are

Prelude: All Souls Night (L. McKennitt)

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting the Chalice Flame:  Responsive Reading We Light this Flame (S. William Feiss) 
We light this flame
As our fervent plea to brighten the dark corners of our hearts;
We hold this flame
For in it is the promise of warmth for souls grown cold in loss and despair;
We kindle this light
That we might continue to find comfort in its warmth; strength in its light; holiness in its presence;
We follow this light
That it might illuminate our search for purpose, for meaning, and forgiveness;
We light this chalice
Knowing even as this sacred spark of life is extinguished, in the ensuing darkness, its light, will still burn bright with all the memory and hope of its all too brief flash across our lives.
We light this flame of life, love, and truth for the divine promise of healing hearts.

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: #18 What Wondrous Love

Quiet Time, Meditation, Candle Lighting

Story For All Ages: The Next Place W. Hanson)

Offertory: Samhain Song (L. Thiel)

Reading: The Ancient Celebration of Samhain (A. Stauber) 

Responsive Reading: This Sacred Thread (H. Janules) 
They once dwelled among us, the people of memory.
They who knew us, they who taught us,
They who hurt us, they who loved us.
They touched our lives time and again,
through their presence and their absence.
Through familiar scents and favorite songs,
Through old stories and renewed sorrow.
As the earth turns and leaves fall,
We reach back to renew the bonds between us.
With hearts and hands open
We hold on to love,
ever-stronger than death.
We reach back in gratitude and understanding- without our time together, the pain and the joy,
We would never be who we are today;
We would have little to pass on ourselves.
Without fear, with thanksgiving and with hope for all that awaits,
We remember those who have gone before.
We honor the circle of life and death,
and our place within this sacred thread.

Sermon: Days of the Dead, Amy Stauber

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.

Closing Words

Postlude: Bad Moon Rising (J. Fogerty)

Order of Service, October 20, 2019

DID WE FORGET TO LEAVE

A GENEROUS TIP?

Rev. John Smith

Prelude: That’s What Friends Are For (B. Bacharach & C. Bayer)

Opening Words: Rev. John Smith

Lighting the Chalice Flame: We light this chalice as a community of faith, which rests on the belief that our coming together is an expression of the woven web of life. It is our interconnectedness that we have to each other, and to the world, which creates our ability to see the light in one another. Allow this flame to resemble our generosity and love for our bruised and broken world.

Hymn: Come, Come, Whoever You Are
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:
Leader: In this sacred place, we need not be alone. We seek a listening ear, a warm heart, open arms.
Congregation: In this sacred place, we join together against the waves of negativity and oppression in our world.
L: We are a community of individual beings, living our own lives, yet coming together now and then in joyous celebration of Spirit and one another.
C: Our differences do not divide us; rather, they are a source of interest and discovery. We need not think alike to love alike.
L: Here, joys are shared, and sorrows comforted. We are Seen and Heard and Believed.
C: My compassion overflows; our hearts reach for others.
L: We are a gathering of like-hearted people, and here are our hearts filled. We hear the wisdom and counsel of our ministers and that of one another.
C: We have much to learn from each other, so many different colors of truth and ways and methods.
L: In this sacred place, may we find what our spirits desire, and what our spirits need. May we be grounded in love and sharing.
C: In this sacred place, may we find acceptance and consideration. May our actions and words echo what we learn here.

Hymn: #118 This Little Light of Mine

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.

Time of Reflection/Meditation/Prayer

Offertory: You’ve Got a Friend (C. King)

Sermon: Did We Forget to Leave A Generous Tip?  Rev. John Smith

Hymn: #131 Love Will Guide Us

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: Lean on Me (B. Withers)
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on

Order of Service, October 13, 2019

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR RIBBON?

Chris Juhl

Greeting

Prelude: I Won’t Back Down (T. Petty & J. Lynne)

Opening Words: From Israel Zangwill

Lighting the Chalice Flame:  We gather this hour as people of faith, with joys and sorrows, gifts and needs.  We light this beacon of hope, a sign of our quest for truth and meaning, in celebration of the life we share together.  Christine Robinson

Hymn: #123 Spirit of Life

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:
Thirty spokes share the wheel’s hub;
It’s the center hole that makes it useful.
Shape clay into a vessel;
It’s the space within that makes it useful.
Cut doors and windows for a room;
It’s the holes that make it useful.
Therefore profit comes from what is there;
Usefulness from what is not there.

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.

Time of Reflection, Meditation/Prayer

Offertory: When You Believe (S. Schwartz)

Sermon: What Color is Your Ribbon? Chris Juhl  

Hymn: #347 Gather the Spirit

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: From T.S. Eliot

Postlude: Fight Song (R. Platten & D. Bassett)

Order of Service, October 6, 2019

BROKEN STRING

Rev. Al Boyce

Nickie Albert, Service Assistant

Prelude: Send in the Clowns (S. Sondheim)

Welcome

Opening Words: Welcome Words, by Erica Hewitt

Lighting the Chalice Flame: Hymn #188 Come, Come, Whoever You Are

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. 

Introduction of Visitors

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.

Moment of Silence and Candle Lighting

Modern Reading: Itzhak Perlman, by Anonymous

Offertory: Hold On (M. Buble)

Sermon: Broken String, Rev. Al Boyce  

Hymn: #100 I’ve Got Peace Like A River

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: Blessed by Our Connection, by Susan Karlson

Postlude: I Made it Through the Rain (G. Kenny & D. Shepperd)

Order of Service, September 29, 2019

ROSH HASHANAH 

Barbara Hatzfeld

Prelude: We’ve Only Just Begun, (R. Nichols & P. Williams)

Welcome

Introduction of Visitors

Opening Words: #636, Bless Us With Peace, read by Pat Knight

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. 

Hymn: Introduction by Nickie Albert, #214 Shabbat Shalom (sing twice)

Story for All Ages: Is There Really a Human Race? (Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell) Read by Rachel Melcher

Quiet Time/Meditation/Prayer/Candle Lighting

Responsive Reading: #637 A Litany of Atonement, Led by Larry Stauber

Offertory: Come Together and Rock Hashanah, (Y. Broide)

Hymn: #215 Praise to the Living God

Rosh Hashanah Homily: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: 10 Days of Awe, Andrew Kahn & Phyllis Levin

Closing Hymn: #216 Hashiveinu (sing twice)

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: #711

Postlude: Here Comes the Sun (G. Harrison)

Order of Service, September 22, 2019

AN INVITATION TO MAGIC

Rachel Melcher

Prelude: A Whole New World (A. Menken & T. Rice)

Welcome

Opening Reading: For Five Thousand Years, or More, by Rev. Matthew Johnson

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. 

Reading: Equinox, by Amy Stauber

Hymn: #175 We Celebrate the Web of Life  

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.

Meditative Moment and Candle Lighting:  A Meditation on the Equinox, by Thomas Rhodes

Social Justice Minute: Larry Stauber

Offertory: Follow the Sun (X. Rudd)

Sermon: An Invitation to Magic, Rachel Melcher 

Hymn: #318 We Would Be One 

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.

Postlude: Soulshine (W. Haynes)

Order of Service, September 8, 2019

PATRIOTISM

Dr. Richard Palermo

  

Prelude:  One Day (Matisyahu)

Welcome

Lighting the Chalice Flame:  Come, Come, Whoever You Are

Come, come, whoever you are,

Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.
Ours is no caravan of despair.
Come, yet again come.

Affirmation: We 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: #21 For the Beauty of the Earth

Social Justice Minute

Quiet Time/Meditation/Prayer

Story for All Ages

Children's Faith Development Program:

Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Offertory:  Take Me Home, Country Roads (B. Danoff, T. Nivert & J. Denver)

Responsive Reading: 

Hymn: #159 This is My Song

Sermon: Patriotism, Dr. Richard Palermo

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.

Closing Words

Postlude:  America (P. Simon)