Order Of Service – January 31, 2021

The Place of Story in our Lives

Music for Contemplation: Begin Sweet World, Innisfree and Morning Song by ​ ​ ​ ​ Bill Douglas, feat. , . Photos by Steve Schmidt, Joseph Walters and Susan Jhirad; Joshua Woroniecki from Pexels; and © Soul Matters.

Sound of the Bell

Prelude: Breezy, Bright and Beautiful, by Molly Ruggles. Performed by Alex ​ ​ Daum, Marsha Lawson, Paul Marcucilli

Opening Words: In this Quiet Hour May Our Spirits be Renewed, by Gary ​ ​ ​ Kowalski

Welcome

Chalice Lighting: Struggle and Joy, by Vance Bass ​ ​ 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: #212, We are Dancing Sarah’s Circle, traditional African American ​ ​ ​ ​ spiritual, new words by Carole Etzler. Sung by Nancy Kurtz, Carole Bundy, Brendan O’Brine and Brendan Shea. We are dancing Sarah’s circle. We are dancing Sarah’s circle. We are dancing Sarah’s circle, Sisters, brothers, all.

Here we seek and find our history (3x) Sisters, brothers, all. We will all do our own naming (3x) Sisters, brothers, all. Every round a generation (3x) Sisters, brothers, all. On and on the circle’s moving (3x) Sisters, brothers, all. Candles of Joy, Sorrow and Milestones

Silent Meditation

Offering: Mourning Dove, composed and performed by Molly Ruggles ​ ​ Reading: Wild Geese, by Mary Oliver ​ ​ ​ Special Music: Pure Imagination, by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley; ​ ​ ​ performed by Molly Ruggles; photos by Carole Bundy and Molly Ruggles.

Sermon: The Place of Story in our Lives ​ Hymn: #326, Let All the Beauty We Have Known, by ​ ​ ​ ​ and Dana McLean Greeley. Sung by Brendan O’Brine; Molly Ruggles on . Let all the beauty we have known illuminate our hearts and minds. Rejoice in wonders daily shown, in faith and joy, and love that binds. ​ ​ We celebrate with singing hearts the loveliness of sky and earth, the inspiration of the arts, the miracle of every birth. ​ ​ Life’s music and its poetry surround and bless us through our days. For these we sing in harmony, together giving thanks and praise. ​ Closing Words: Walk Softly, by Elaine Gallagher Gehrmann ​ ​ ​ Postlude: Ashokan Farewell, by Jay Ungar. Performed by Margot Chamberlain, ​ ​ harpist; photos by Carole Bundy.