1 Worship Resource Packet for Gratitude Theme-Based Ministry Project Pacific Western Region & First Universalist Church of Denver SLT = Singing the Living Tradition/ STJ = Singing the Journey / WW = UUA Worship Web/ T = Touchstones Please attribute the authors of these resources in the Order of Service and in the service itself. Part 1: Sample Order of Service Part 2: List of Resources Part 3: Worship Resources Part 1: Sample Order of Service This sample order of service illustrates one way to break the sermon (aka talk, lecture, etc.) into two or three parts. One part would use one of the sermon excerpts provided below, while the other one or two parts would be based on the theme and written and delivered by members of your congregation. An alternative using two parts would be to use two of the sermon excerpts in this packet. Announcements Gathering Music Opening Words Hymn Chalice Lighting (either spoken by worship leader or in unison by congregation) Sung Response #123 Spirit of Life by Carolyn McDade (remain seated) Spirit of Life, come unto me. Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion. Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; move in the hand giving life the shape of justice. Roots hold me close; wings set me free; Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me. Words of Welcome (by worship leader or Board member) Meeting and Greeting (invite people to greet each other) Music Exploration I Suggested length 5 minutes (500 words) written by a member of the congregation on the theme or use pat of one of the sermons in section 11. (If you are just doing two explorations, eliminate this one.) Sharing of Joys and Sorrows (with lighting of candles or another ritual) (unison response) For the joys shared, we join you in celebration. For the sorrows and concerns spoken here, may you feel our sympathy and compassion. For all that remains unspoken, both joy and sorrow, may the caring of our community offer you both kindness and hope. Readings from the Common Bowl (use ten quotes from the Touchstones journal read by two people alternating—don’t read the names of the authors of the quotes, but allow a few beats between them so people can absorb the words and the meaning.) 1 2 Exploration II Use one of the sermon excerpts provided below (ten minutes/1,000 words) Offering Reading or Responsive Reading Exploration III Suggested length 5 minutes (500 words) written by a member of the congregation on the theme. Hymn Extinguishing the Chalice by Elizabeth Selle Jones (in unison) 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 Part 2: List of Resources 1.0: Opening Words 1.1: We unite in our differences by David Breeden (see below) WW 1.2: Ingathering by Rev. Tamara Lebek (see below) WW 1.3: As we gather together this morning by Rev. Bets Wienecke (see below) WW 1.4: It Is Good To Be Together by Rev. Alison Wohler (see below) WW 1.5: Amid all the noise in our lives by Tim Haley (see below) WW 1.6: Seasons of Our Lives by Rev. Richard M. Fewkes (see below) WW 1.7: In this quiet hour may our spirits be renewed by Rev. Gary Kowalski (see below) WW 1.8: For our community gathered here, for the spirit that called us together and drew us to this place by Rev. Jane E. Mauldin (see below) WW 2.0: Chalice Lighting 2.1: Abundance by Dawn Skjei Cooley (see below) WW 3.0: Hymns 3.1: SLT #21 For the Beauty of the Earth 3.2: SLT #67 We Sing Now Together 3.3: SLT #68 Come Ye Thankful People 3.4: SLT #128 For All That Is Our Life 3.5: SLT #322 Thanks Be For These 3.6: SLT #326 Let All the Beauty We Have Known 3.7: SLT #349 We Gather Together 4.0: Stories & Illustrations 4.1: A Brother’s Sacrifice (see below) 5.0: Meditations 5.1: A Thanksgiving Blessing by Rev. Naomi King (see below) WW 5.2: We lift our hearts in gratitude by Rev. Philip Randall Giles (see below) WW 5.3: May we look with gratitude upon this day by Rev. Michael R. Leduc (see below) WW 2 3 5.4: Each Breath by Rev. Leaf Seligman (see below) WW 5.5: Meditation for a Beautiful Day by Rev. Sara Moores (see below) WW York 5.6: A time of gratitude by Rev. Samuel A. Trumbore (see below) WW 6.0: Prayers 6.1: Spirit of life, we are joined today in a moment of gratitude for a perfect fall day by Kerry Meuller (see below) WW 6.2: Pastoral Prayer by Rev. Wayne B. Arnason (see below) WW 6.3: A Thanksgiving Prayer by Rev. Robert R. Walsh (see below) WW 6.4: We thank them all by Mel Harkrader-Pine (see below) WW 6.5: Gratitude by Rev. Max Kapp (see below) WW 6.6: Spirit of the Harvest by Rev. Gary Kowalski (see below) WW 6.7: How Shall We Pray? by Judith L. Quarles (see below) WW 6.8: Creator God by P. M. Traunstein (see below) WW 6.9: Holy One, known by many names by Rev. Marta M. Flanagan(see below) WW 6.10: Pastoral Prayer by Krista Taves (see below) WW 6.11: O Source of life and love by Rev. Bruce Southworth (see below) WW 6.12: Let us pray to the God by Rev. Max A. Coots (see below) WW 7.0: Responsive Readings 7:1: SLT #445 The Womb of the Stars by Rev. Joy Atkinson 7:2: SLT #512 We Give Thanks This Day by Rev. Gene Pickett 7:3: SLT #515 We Lift Up Our Hearts in Thanks by Rev. Richard Fewkes 7:4: SLT #656 A Harvest of Gratitude by Percival Chubb 7:5: All too often, we pace the geometries of our walled gardens by Rev. John Millspaugh (see below) 8.0: Readings 8.1: Towards a Grateful Society by Kenneth Kraft, Professor of Buddhist Studies at Lehigh University, writing in Tricycle, The Buddhist Review (see below) 8.2: The Fine Art of the Good Guest by Rev. Jeffrey Lockwood WW (see below) 8.3: Be Cool to the Pizza Dude by Sarah Adams (see below) 8.4: The Good News by Thich Nhat Hanh (see below) 8.5: A Poem for Thanksgiving by Edna St. Vincent Millay (see below) 8.6: Attitudes of Gratitude by M.J. Ryan (see below) 8.7: Praise Wet Snow Falling Early by Denise Levertov (see below) 9.0: Extinguishing the Chalice 9.1: We extinguish this flame by Elizabeth Selle Jones 10.0: Closing Words 10.1: May we go forth from this place by Rev. Charles A. Howe (see below) WW 11.0: Sermons 11.1: Otherwise: A Sermon Towards Gratitude by Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker (Excerpt, full text at http://www.flowingforce.com/images/otherwise.pdf) (see below) 3 4 11.2: Gratitude by Rev. Barbara Merritt (Excerpt, full text at http://first-unitarian-church-of- worcester.blogspot.com/2007/04/gratitude-sermon-by-rev-barbara-merritt.html) (see below) 11.3: Attitude and Gratitude by Rev. Susan Manker-Seale (Excerpt) (see below) 11.4: Point Thank You by Rev. Robert Hardies (Excerpt, full text at http://www.all- souls.org/sermons/20020602.htm) (see below) 11.5: Gratitude by Rev. Scott W. Alexander (Excerpt, full text http://www.rruuc.org/index.php?id=191&sermon=081123) (see below) 12.0: Other Resources 12.1: Ritual for the Day of the Dead/All Souls by Rev. Christine C. Robinson WW (see below) 13.0: Readings from the Common Bowl Part 3: Worship Resources 1.0: Opening Words 1.1: We unite in our differences by David Breeden We unite in our differences in background and belief; We unite—with gratitude and hope: Hope for a world of differences; Hope for a world that honors difference; We unite in community With gratitude for difference. 1.2: Ingathering by Rev. Tamara Lebek In gathering In the fall In the church In the quiet In the noise In thought In the spirit In anticipation In calm In the beginning In the end In transition In gratitude In hope In love In faith In unison Ingathering. 1.3: As we gather together this morning by Rev. Bets Wienecke As we gather together this morning, May we learn to recognize and affirm The pieces of possibility -- The bits of good -- we bring. 4 5 May we encourage rather than control; Love rather than possess; Enable rather than envy. Allowing our individual gifts to weave a patchwork of peace: The soft deep blue of sensitivity and understanding; The red energy of creativity; The white heat of convictions; The risky, fragile green of new growth; The golden flashes of gratitude; The warm rose of love. Each of us is indispensable If we are to minister to a broken and wounded world. Together, in our gathered diversity, we form the whole. So be it. 1.4: It Is Good To Be Together by Rev. Alison Wohler …With thankful hearts we have come together this morning to celebrate the bounty of the day, to bask in the warmth of this community, to share with friends the tides of our lives, to entertain, perennially, our hopes for a better future. We join together, this morning as always, to resist injustice and inequality, wherever they may be found.