Order of Service First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist 26 Pleasant Street, Newburyport, MA “In a time of destruction, create something: a poem, a parade, a community, a school, a vow, a moral principle; one peaceful moment.” — Maxine Hong Kingston Sunday, June 14, 2020 Order of Service June Ministry Theme: Celebration opening music Garrett Silveira with Alligator and Dog Rainbow Connection Williams/Ascher (1979) welcome to the service Stella Okaya chalice lighting We gather this hour as people of faith With joys and sorrows, gifts and needs. We light this beacon of hope, Sign of our quest For truth and meaning, In celebration of the life we share together. candles of peace all Peace, Salam, Shalom Paige Lichty *affirmation of faith Anna Brittan and Stella Okaya Love is the doctrine of this church, The quest of truth is its sacrament, And service is its prayer. To dwell together in peace, To seek knowledge in freedom, To serve humankind in fellowship, To the end that all souls shall grow into harmony with the Divine– Thus do we covenant with each other and with God. *doxology Stella Okaya, Ken Okaya and Becky Dill From all that dwell below the skies Let faith and hope with love arise; Let beauty, truth and good be sung Through every land, by every tongue. our first church vlog: A Quest for Iced Beverage Perfection Anna Fortier, Piper Hogg, Lucy Litwin, and Zoe Seese Order of Service reflecting on the past few months: Ben Stedman, Jackson Wauchope, Kelly Kane, and Stella Okaya while we were home: A Compilation of Hopeful Endeavors and Activities by Yoots Anna Brittan, Jenny Booth, Graham Billlington, Anna Fortier, Sadie Fountain, Lucy Litwin, Stella Okaya, Ian Rose, and Joseph Snow *unison benediction Anna Brittan May the Love which overcomes all differences, Which heals all wounds, Which puts to flight all fears, Which reconciles all who are separated, Be in us and among us now and always. postlude Andrew Litcofsky, Phoenix Merrill, Wish You Were Here Garrett Silveira, and Jackson Wauchope Gilmour/Waters (1975) Today's cover art was created by Madeleine (Maddie) Creps. Notes on today’s service Poetry excerpted during the service: “Mysteries, Yes” - Mary Oliver “In this Short Life that Only Lasts an Hour” - Emily Dickinson Music featured or excerpted during the service: “Tangerine” Artist: Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Songwriters: Johnny Mercer and Victor Schertzinger “Save the Children” Artist: Marvin Gaye Songwriters: Al Cleveland, Renaldo Benson, and Marvin Gaye “Wish You Were Here” Artist: Pink Floyd Songwriters: David Gilmour and Roger Waters “Children of the Future” Artist: Steve Miller Band Songwriter: Steve Miller “I’m a Little Airplane” Artist: Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers Songwriter: Jonathan Richman This Week’s Questions to Ponder, Discuss, and Hold... 1. Can you recall a time when you fell into a sense of hopelessness and despair, and creativity (your own or someone else’s) lifted you up? 2. Imagine yourself embracing and even celebrating failure: what would become possible? Notes on today’s service We use the mindfulness bell at the start of each service as an invitation to center ourselves and open our minds and hearts to worship. The bell is rung three times. Candles of Peace Each week we light these candles to represent two places on earth that especially need peace this week. Candle Lighting for Joys and Concerns Please feel free to light a candle of joy and concern before the service. Today’s Dedication This week’s steeple lighting is sponsored by Joan Atkinson and Richard Abbott in memory of their parents and loved ones. Shared Collection for June: Shared Collection for June: Half of this month’s unpledged cash collection will go to LGBT Asylum Task Force in Worcester, which supports the basic human needs of LGBTQI people seeking asylum in the US. They depend on donations and volunteers to help asylum seekers. It takes approximately $1,100 per month to provide the basic necessities of shelter, food, andsupport for each asylum seeker. This past year they supported 45 people fleeing persecution and maintained their 100% success rate of folks granted asylum. Connect & Engage: Here's What's Going On Black Lives Matter FRS working together to end systemic racism As I See It: “A certain kind of protest” Read Rev. Rebecca’s “As I See It” column that was published in the June 10 edition of The Daily News of Newburyport: www.frsuu.org/a-certain-kind-of-protest Special Worship: Wednesday, June 17, 7:30pm, United in Peace Join Rev. Rebecca and fellow members of the Greater Newburyport Clergy Association for this special worship, “United in Peace,” open to the community. The service will include brief reflections, music and readings from various faith traditions. Read the flyer. https://umcom.zoom.us/j/99376090144 “Seeing White” Discussion Series, Tuesdays and Fridays, June 23-Aug 14, 9-10am (No sessions the week of July 27) Please join us for a discussion of Scene on Radio’s podcast “Seeing White,” a 14-episode series that explores race from the perspective of whiteness. What does it mean to be white in the United States? It’s a different way of exploring race than what many of us are used to, by examining the oppressors rather than the oppressed. For more information, contact Julie Parker Amery, Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration, [email protected]. Register online: https://bit.ly/seeingwhitesummer2020 Book Discussion: An End to Policing by Alex Vitale led by Justin Murphy-Mancini, Thursdays beginning June 25, 6:30pm During this challenging time, a lot of ideas about improving policing are being posted everywhere online, leading to an overflow of information. What ideas are good ideas? Have any of these strategies been tried before? What do experts say we should be doing? If you are especially interested in policy and government action, this book is essential grounding reading. Digital copies will be distributed free of charge, courtesy of the publisher, Verso Books.Contact Justin Murphy-Mancini, [email protected], with questions. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/FRS-End-to-Policing Summer Book Read: How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi You are cordially invited to join an FRS summer book club -- we will be reading together Ibram X. Kendi’s How To Be an Antiracist. Recognized as a best book of the year by The New York Times, Time, The Washington Post, NPR and others, this book can help FRS members and friends to develop shared language and common understanding of core concepts of racism, and, as importantly, ideas about specific actions we can take to create a more just and equitable community. Note: How to Be an Antiracist is currently on back order. We awaiting information from booksellers regarding expected availability of hard copies. More details and access information to come soon. Contact Jane Tuohy, [email protected], with questions. Imagine: A Weekly Contemplation from Rev. Rebecca Join Rev. Rebecca for a ten-week series this summer exploring the concepts of imagination and paradox. Each Tuesday you will receive an email that includes a short reflection written by Rev. Rebecca, writing prompts, and other practices to consider. Emails begin Tuesday, June 30 and run through Tuesday, September 8. Sign up here! https://bit.ly/FRS-Imagine Worship Associate Opening for 2020-2021 We have an opening for a Worship Associate for the coming (2020- 2021) church year. Worship Associates are a group of nine FRS members or friends who help Reverend Rebecca and Justin with church services. They collaborate in the planning stages and participate in the service itself, welcoming the congregation and helping to lead them through worship. If you are interested, please contact Nancy Crochiere at [email protected]. ACCESS FOR WEEKDAY PROGRAMMING Note: Dial by phone where marked with * is: +1 646 558 8656 Monday, June 15, 9-10am, Seeing White: Online Discussion Register to get the access code: https://bit.ly/seeingwhitediscussion *Tuesday, June 16, 11am, Spiritual Practice: Julie Parker Amery Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/94440982749 Meeting ID: 944 4098 2749 Tuesday, June 16, Noon, Online Short Story Group See Journeying Together for access information. Wednesday, June 17, 7pm, Virtual Young Church Summer Session - for information please contact Director of Children’s Ministry Mara Flynn, [email protected]. Friday, June 19, 10-11:30am, Virtual Friday Book Group See Journeying Together for access information. *Friday, June 19, Noon, “Let’s Do Lunch” - A Virtual Potluck with Julie Parker Amery Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/99201530426 Meeting ID: 992 0153 0426 Welcome to First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist! We’ve been in the center of Newburyport since 1725. Our denomination has its roots in the Reformation of the 1500s; today we welcome all religious seekers. We invite you and your family to our virtual services at 10:30am on Sundays; children are welcome in our lively Young Church program. Connect with Us! Our website: www.frsuu.org Our Facebook page: facebook.com/frsuu/ Join our email list: www.frsuu.org/contact or [email protected] For information about Young Church: [email protected] We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: • The inherent worth and dignity of every person; • Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; • Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; • A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; • The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; • The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; • Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.