Entering Into Sacred Space

Call to Worship: Dan McKanan

Welcome and Greeting: Michael Glenn

Chalice Lighting

Covenant:

Love is the heart of this church.
We commit to:
Being a diverse, welcoming community of mutual care and respect;
Supporting each other's spiritual journey and search for truth and meaning;
Promoting justice and serving the wider community.
We hold ourselves to this promise with compassion and understanding.

Hymn #188: 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.

(repeat)

Time For All Ages: Dan McKanan

Building Beloved Community

Hymn #151: I Wish I Knew How

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free.
I wish I could break all these chains holding me.
I wish I could say all the things I could say,
Say 'em loud, say 'em clear
for the whole world to hear.
Say 'em loud, say 'em clear
for the whole world to hear.

I wish I could share all the love in my heart,
remove all the bars that still keep us apart.
I wish you could know what it means to be me,
then you'd see and agree
everyone should be free.
Then you'd see and agree
everyone should be free.

I wish I could give all I'm longing to give.
I wish I could live like I'm longing to live.
I wish I could do all the things I can do,
though I'm way overdue
I'd be starting anew.
Though I'm way overdue
I'd be starting anew.

I wish I could be like a bird in the sky.
How sweet it would be if I found I could fly.
I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea,
then I'd sing 'cause I'd know
how it feels to be free.
Then I'd sing 'cause I'd know
how it feels to be free.

Candles Of Joys, Sorrows and Milestones: Michael Glenn

Reading: from the book The Social Implications of Universalism by Clarence Skinner

Special Music: I Have A Million Nightingales by Linda Hirschhorn, text adapted by Mahmoud Darwish, performed by Nancy Kurtz, photos taken by Nancy Kurtz around Medford

Sermon: Dan McKanan

Sending Forth

Hymn #140: Hail the Glorious Golden City

(same melody as Blue Boat Home)

Hail the glorious golden city,
pictured by the seers of old:
everlasting light shines o'er it
wondrous things of it are told.

Wise and righteous men and women
dwell within its gleaming wall;
wrong is banished from its borders,
justice reigns supreme o'er all.

We are builders of that city.
All our joys and all our groans
help to rear its shining ramparts;
all our lives are building-stones.

Whether humble or exalted,
all are called to task divine;
all must aid alike to carry
forward one sublime design.

Closing Words