Entering Into Sacred Space

Prelude: Spring Birds by Alex M. Daum, Alex Daum piano, Nadine Dyskant-Miller flute.

Opening announcements: Marsha Lawson

Chalice Lighting: Hua Hu Ching #5, read by Marsha Lawson

Do you imagine the universe is agitated?
Go into the desert at night and look out at the stars.
This practice should answer the question.
This person settles her mind as the universe settles the stars in the sky.
By connecting her mind with the subtle origin, she calms it.
Once calmed, it naturally expands, and ultimately her mind becomes as vast and immeasurable
As the night sky.

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.

Time For All Ages: Owen by Kevin Henkes, read by Mimi Olivier

Building Beloved Community

Hymn #1002: Comfort Me, words and music: Mimi Bornstein-Doble, piano and vocals: Alex Daum

Comfort me, comfort me, comfort me, oh my soul
Comfort me, comfort me, comfort me, oh my soul

Sing with me...

Dance with me...

Comfort me...

Talk 1: Alex Daum

Talk 2: Marsha Lawson, participants share

Special Music: Be Grateful, My Soul poem by Norbert Čapek, music by Elizabeth Alexander, guitar and vocals: Andey Amata-Kynvi

Sending Forth

Hymn #126: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing words: Robert Robinson and Eugene Navias, music: John Wyeth, piano and vocals: Alex Daum

Come thou fount of ev’ry blessing, tune our hearts to sing thy grace.
Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
While the hope of life’s perfections fills our hearts with joy and love,
Teach us ever to be faithful, may we still thy goodness prove.

Come, thou fount of ev’ry vision, lift our eyes to what may come.
See the lion and the young lamb dwell together in thy home.
Hear the cries of war fall silent, feel our love glow like the sun.
When we all serve one another, then our heaven is begun.

Come, thou fount of inspiration, turn our lives to higher ways.
Lift our gloom and desperation, show the promise of this day.
Help us bind ourselves in union, help our hands tell of our love.
With thine aid, O fount of justice, earth be fair as heav’n above.

Closing Words: words by Black Elk, read by Marsha Lawson

It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still lives. Nourish it then, that it may leaf and bloom and fill with singing birds.

Postlude: Moving To Your Tune by Alex M. Daum, piano: Alex Daum

Candles of Joys, Sorrows and Milestones: Marsha Lawson

Coffee Hour