Dear Members and Friends:
Although a pandemic may separate us physically, it need not sever us from community. While we cannot be together in body at this time, we can be together in spirit. Let us then, set aside some time today to gather in spirit with one another and, through ritual and reflection, support one another by strengthening our resolve to remain faithful to our principles and maintain the bonds of community, friendship and love.
Below is an abbreviated worship service for use at home while limits on public gatherings are in place due to Covid-19. A new service will be posted and emailed each week until we can resume worship in the sanctuary at BUUC.
Chalice Lighting
Light a candle at home or in your mind’s eye mindful of people from our church community and around the world who, though physically separated, are gathered in spirit.
Like the First Hint of Green
By Jennifer McGlothin
As the first hint of green begins to peek through the barren ground
As that little sprig grows into a healthy stem
As that stem grows into a stalk and forms a bud
As that bud slowly opens with each new day
To form a yellow daffodil
Let us be, like that first hint of green, renewed by the warm of the sun’s rays
And ready to emerge with a new energy, ready to face the day.
We light this chalice to bring a glimmer of that warmth into our space.
AFFIRMATION:
● Together: We unite in an atmosphere of care and support to foster spiritual health and growth.
● Together: We focus on sharing our ideas and histories, with warmth, hope, loving friendship and an open mind.
● Together: We nurture stability for our daily lives and seek motivation to reach out to the larger community.
Music:
"Log On, Rejoice and ZOOM In" by Eric Lane Barnes(permissions granted)
https://vimeo.com/401147138
Reading/Poem for Reflection
The following is a responsive reading(which doesn't really work well on-line) so it has been adapted to a single voice.
We Don't Know What Happened
By Daniel Budd
We're not sure what happened. But, we know what it's like when someone appears whose message we feel offers hope, who inspires us with new ways of living.
We know what it's like when they fall short of our expectations, or worse, when they are cut down by the forces of hate and bigotry.
We're not sure what happened. But, we know what it's like when someone has grown profoundly into our own lives, who seems as much a part of our living as our own breathing.
We know what it's like when death takes them from us, perhaps prematurely, and the empty place now in our souls is much like an empty tomb.
We're not sure what happened. But, we know what it's like to feel sorrow and loss, despair and grief. We know the waves of tears and the thoughts of the past which flow through us.
We know that memories and stories begin to fill the emptiness; our lives are shored up with a different presence which will live with us all our lives.
We're not sure what happened. But, we know what it's like to realize, to have it dawn upon us, that what we have known and loved lives on with us and within us, forever, a part of who we are.
We know that somehow, in our hearts and souls, resurrection is real; not that of the body, but of the spirit — a spirit renewed, even reborn, in the midst of our lives and our living.
We're not sure what happened. But, we know there is a difficult hope, a faith, that through whatever sorrow or grief we are feeling, there is also a growing sense of grace and gratitude, of joy and thanksgiving, in the mysterious and abiding astonishment of being human.
In this wonder, may we find strength within our own sense of Easter.
Question(s) for reflection:
What is your response to the reading? Did it touch/move or disturb you?
In what way is the reading relevant to your life experience past or present?
What might you take from this reading into the week ahead?
Joys and Concerns
If participating on Facebook: As you feel so moved, post a joy or concern you are holding this week. Remember this is a public forum so please exercise discretion, respect confidentially and refrain from moralizing.
If participating as a ZOOM recipient: You may raise your hand and wait to be called on or post your joy and concern in the chat box
If participating as an email recipient: As you feel so moved, speak aloud a joy or concern you are holding, mindful you are not alone, but one among many with joys and concerns seeking expression.
Moment of Silent Meditation/Prayer
Take a moment to be still and listen to the wisdom of your heart and /or pray or chant words meaningful to you or in your own words.
Extinguishing the chalice
Blow out the candle you lit physically or in your mind’s eye.
Benediction
Recite aloud or in silence
Peace be my companion
Have courage
Hold onto what is good
Return to no person evil for evil
Strengthen the fainthearted
Support the weak
Help the suffering
Honor all beings
Amen and Blessed Be
Although a pandemic may separate us physically, it need not sever us from community. While we cannot be together in body at this time, we can be together in spirit. Let us then, set aside some time today to gather in spirit with one another and, through ritual and reflection, support one another by strengthening our resolve to remain faithful to our principles and maintain the bonds of community, friendship and love.
Below is an abbreviated worship service for use at home while limits on public gatherings are in place due to Covid-19. A new service will be posted and emailed each week until we can resume worship in the sanctuary at BUUC.
Chalice Lighting
Light a candle at home or in your mind’s eye mindful of people from our church community and around the world who, though physically separated, are gathered in spirit.
Like the First Hint of Green
By Jennifer McGlothin
As the first hint of green begins to peek through the barren ground
As that little sprig grows into a healthy stem
As that stem grows into a stalk and forms a bud
As that bud slowly opens with each new day
To form a yellow daffodil
Let us be, like that first hint of green, renewed by the warm of the sun’s rays
And ready to emerge with a new energy, ready to face the day.
We light this chalice to bring a glimmer of that warmth into our space.
AFFIRMATION:
● Together: We unite in an atmosphere of care and support to foster spiritual health and growth.
● Together: We focus on sharing our ideas and histories, with warmth, hope, loving friendship and an open mind.
● Together: We nurture stability for our daily lives and seek motivation to reach out to the larger community.
Music:
"Log On, Rejoice and ZOOM In" by Eric Lane Barnes(permissions granted)
https://vimeo.com/401147138
Reading/Poem for Reflection
The following is a responsive reading(which doesn't really work well on-line) so it has been adapted to a single voice.
We Don't Know What Happened
By Daniel Budd
We're not sure what happened. But, we know what it's like when someone appears whose message we feel offers hope, who inspires us with new ways of living.
We know what it's like when they fall short of our expectations, or worse, when they are cut down by the forces of hate and bigotry.
We're not sure what happened. But, we know what it's like when someone has grown profoundly into our own lives, who seems as much a part of our living as our own breathing.
We know what it's like when death takes them from us, perhaps prematurely, and the empty place now in our souls is much like an empty tomb.
We're not sure what happened. But, we know what it's like to feel sorrow and loss, despair and grief. We know the waves of tears and the thoughts of the past which flow through us.
We know that memories and stories begin to fill the emptiness; our lives are shored up with a different presence which will live with us all our lives.
We're not sure what happened. But, we know what it's like to realize, to have it dawn upon us, that what we have known and loved lives on with us and within us, forever, a part of who we are.
We know that somehow, in our hearts and souls, resurrection is real; not that of the body, but of the spirit — a spirit renewed, even reborn, in the midst of our lives and our living.
We're not sure what happened. But, we know there is a difficult hope, a faith, that through whatever sorrow or grief we are feeling, there is also a growing sense of grace and gratitude, of joy and thanksgiving, in the mysterious and abiding astonishment of being human.
In this wonder, may we find strength within our own sense of Easter.
Question(s) for reflection:
What is your response to the reading? Did it touch/move or disturb you?
In what way is the reading relevant to your life experience past or present?
What might you take from this reading into the week ahead?
Joys and Concerns
If participating on Facebook: As you feel so moved, post a joy or concern you are holding this week. Remember this is a public forum so please exercise discretion, respect confidentially and refrain from moralizing.
If participating as a ZOOM recipient: You may raise your hand and wait to be called on or post your joy and concern in the chat box
If participating as an email recipient: As you feel so moved, speak aloud a joy or concern you are holding, mindful you are not alone, but one among many with joys and concerns seeking expression.
Moment of Silent Meditation/Prayer
Take a moment to be still and listen to the wisdom of your heart and /or pray or chant words meaningful to you or in your own words.
Extinguishing the chalice
Blow out the candle you lit physically or in your mind’s eye.
Benediction
Recite aloud or in silence
Peace be my companion
Have courage
Hold onto what is good
Return to no person evil for evil
Strengthen the fainthearted
Support the weak
Help the suffering
Honor all beings
Amen and Blessed Be
