June 7, 2020
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.
If you can, please join us on-line or telephone via Zoom, at 11:30 AM on Sunday. We will do the Chalice Lighting, Affirmation, Joys and Concerns and Benediction. A separate email will have the details.
Announcements
Announcements are listed at the end of this document. If you have any announcements for the Zoom service, please type them into the Chat box or let the leader know you have an announcement.
Singing Bowl
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.
The words of today’s chalice lighting are by Adrian L. H. Graham
We kindle a flame of power, illuminating the Holy in each of our faces.
We recognize in the flame a passionate commitment to our shared faith.
We are held and carried from day to day, week to week, in the shining of the light.
This flame is mine, as well as yours.
We are brought together on this day, called to growth, to expansion, within its glow.
What does your heart know while beholding this holy fire?
Affirmation:
Reading/Poem for Reflection
Stand By This Faith
Responsive Reading # 569 (SLT)
From Olympia Brown
Stand by this faith. Work for it and sacrifice for it.
-There is nothing in all the world so important as to be loyal to this faith which has placed before us the loftiest ideals,
Which has comforted us in sorrow, strengthened us for noble duty, and made the world beautiful.
-Do not demand immediate results but rejoice that we are worthy to be entrusted with this great message,
That you are strong enough to work for a great true principle without counting the cost.
-Go on finding ever new applications of these truths and new enjoyments in their contemplation, always trusting in the one God which ever lives and loves.
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?
Musical Offering
If you are able to join us via Zoom on Sunday, Lucy Colwell will play
"Wondrous Love" 4th movement from - "Reflections on a Southern Hymn" by Stephen Gryc
If you are unable to join us, please enjoy this piece, presented by Eric Lane Barnes*
Come My Way, My Truth, My Life https://vimeo.com/410907458
Joys and Concerns
If participating as on 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.
Homily*
“Undeterred”
by the Rev. Craig M. Nowak
*The homily will be posted online at www.buuc.org the week following the online service.
Extinguishing the chalice
Recite aloud or in silence
We Are One by Amy Zucker Morgenstern
Never has it been more true than now:
We extinguish this flame,
But the sparks within us remain alight.
From each of us, in our supposed solitude,
The signals buzz and hum, sparkling through space one to another,
Connecting us invisibly
But palpably.
We are one.
And from every window,
Our light shines.
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
Benediction Response: “Peace Be Unto This Congregation”
Announcements
**We have used several music videos in our worship services that were created by Eric Lane Barnes, East Shore Unitarian Church Director of Music. To find out a little more about Eric and and/or make a donation to continue his work, check out ELB Presents! www.Patreon.com/EricLaneBarne
June 28th is the start of summer services and this year we will start by joining the General Assembly at their service. This is from an email from Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray:
"... I invite your congregation to make GA Sunday Morning Worship your service on June 28. The Rev. Joan Javier Duval, minister of the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, Vermont, is leading the service, along with the Rev. Mykal Slack, Community Minister for Worship and Spiritual Care for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), and Benjie Messer, Music Director at the UU Congregation of Phoenix who will lead the over 140 member virtual choir! I’ve also been told that Ysaÿe Barnwell and Emma’s Revolution will perform during the service.
The service will stream live two times on Sunday, at 10 a.m. Eastern/9 a.m. Central and again at 10 a.m. Pacific/11 a.m. Mountain. Imagine having 1,000 congregations and 100,000 UU’s sharing worship that reaches across the globe!" The links to these services will be provided at a later date.
Aging as a Spiritual Practice - The group continues to meet via Zoom on the first and third Sudays with June 21st being the last session for this church year. If you would like to join us, please contact Joanne Hamerly or Cruger Johnson Phillips.
Book Club - Second Tuesday of the month, 7pm. JOIN US for an all-inclusive (men and women of BUUC and beyond welcome), exhilarating (maybe a little strong but we’re really excited) BUUC BOOK CLUB. We hope to create a group that will generate meaningful conversations about a variety of books, authors, and topics. During the Covid-19 shutdown, we will be meeting virtually via ZOOM. If you would like to join us, contact Barb Hale at b.lambert.hale@gmail.com to be added to the invitation list. This week we will be discussing the two books that have made an impact on your life.
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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.
If you can, please join us on-line or telephone via Zoom, at 11:30 AM on Sunday. We will do the Chalice Lighting, Affirmation, Joys and Concerns and Benediction. A separate email will have the details.
Announcements
Announcements are listed at the end of this document. If you have any announcements for the Zoom service, please type them into the Chat box or let the leader know you have an announcement.
Singing Bowl
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.
The words of today’s chalice lighting are by Adrian L. H. Graham
We kindle a flame of power, illuminating the Holy in each of our faces.
We recognize in the flame a passionate commitment to our shared faith.
We are held and carried from day to day, week to week, in the shining of the light.
This flame is mine, as well as yours.
We are brought together on this day, called to growth, to expansion, within its glow.
What does your heart know while beholding this holy fire?
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.
Reading/Poem for Reflection
Stand By This Faith
Responsive Reading # 569 (SLT)
From Olympia Brown
Stand by this faith. Work for it and sacrifice for it.
-There is nothing in all the world so important as to be loyal to this faith which has placed before us the loftiest ideals,
Which has comforted us in sorrow, strengthened us for noble duty, and made the world beautiful.
-Do not demand immediate results but rejoice that we are worthy to be entrusted with this great message,
That you are strong enough to work for a great true principle without counting the cost.
-Go on finding ever new applications of these truths and new enjoyments in their contemplation, always trusting in the one God which ever lives and loves.
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?
Musical Offering
If you are able to join us via Zoom on Sunday, Lucy Colwell will play
"Wondrous Love" 4th movement from - "Reflections on a Southern Hymn" by Stephen Gryc
If you are unable to join us, please enjoy this piece, presented by Eric Lane Barnes*
Come My Way, My Truth, My Life https://vimeo.com/410907458
Joys and Concerns
If participating as on 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.
Homily*
“Undeterred”
by the Rev. Craig M. Nowak
*The homily will be posted online at www.buuc.org the week following the online service.
Extinguishing the chalice
Recite aloud or in silence
We Are One by Amy Zucker Morgenstern
Never has it been more true than now:
We extinguish this flame,
But the sparks within us remain alight.
From each of us, in our supposed solitude,
The signals buzz and hum, sparkling through space one to another,
Connecting us invisibly
But palpably.
We are one.
And from every window,
Our light shines.
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
Benediction Response: “Peace Be Unto This Congregation”
Announcements
**We have used several music videos in our worship services that were created by Eric Lane Barnes, East Shore Unitarian Church Director of Music. To find out a little more about Eric and and/or make a donation to continue his work, check out ELB Presents! www.Patreon.com/EricLaneBarne
June 28th is the start of summer services and this year we will start by joining the General Assembly at their service. This is from an email from Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray:
"... I invite your congregation to make GA Sunday Morning Worship your service on June 28. The Rev. Joan Javier Duval, minister of the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, Vermont, is leading the service, along with the Rev. Mykal Slack, Community Minister for Worship and Spiritual Care for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), and Benjie Messer, Music Director at the UU Congregation of Phoenix who will lead the over 140 member virtual choir! I’ve also been told that Ysaÿe Barnwell and Emma’s Revolution will perform during the service.
The service will stream live two times on Sunday, at 10 a.m. Eastern/9 a.m. Central and again at 10 a.m. Pacific/11 a.m. Mountain. Imagine having 1,000 congregations and 100,000 UU’s sharing worship that reaches across the globe!" The links to these services will be provided at a later date.
Aging as a Spiritual Practice - The group continues to meet via Zoom on the first and third Sudays with June 21st being the last session for this church year. If you would like to join us, please contact Joanne Hamerly or Cruger Johnson Phillips.
Book Club - Second Tuesday of the month, 7pm. JOIN US for an all-inclusive (men and women of BUUC and beyond welcome), exhilarating (maybe a little strong but we’re really excited) BUUC BOOK CLUB. We hope to create a group that will generate meaningful conversations about a variety of books, authors, and topics. During the Covid-19 shutdown, we will be meeting virtually via ZOOM. If you would like to join us, contact Barb Hale at b.lambert.hale@gmail.com to be added to the invitation list. This week we will be discussing the two books that have made an impact on your life.
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