Calls to Worship
Call to Worship, September 2013
In this place, we affirm the Universalist good news that: No matter your faults or failings No matter how many things you cross off your to-do list, No matter your political leanings, you income, your age No matter what your friends think of you, or what you think of you All of these things have no bearing On the good news we gather here to proclaim That each of us is precious and worthy of love And this new day breaks for all of us As a gift And so let us gather in gratitude, For all the truth still to be revealed For Growth, Renewal, Hope Let us open ourselves, and Let us collect ourselves First time guests, Long time members, Returners after a time away, Leaders who were here for a meeting earlier this week. For all of these and everyone in between, we offer our welcome. Wherever you may be in your life, and in your spiritual path; we hope you find in this community, a people and in this faith a life-long religious path, and that you will return to this place of memory and hope - again, and again. |
Call to Worship, December 2013, after Newtown
Nothing in this life is simple To hold all the pieces together To hold ourselves together We need help No matter our age or stage, our role, or the strength of our soul We know, we cannot walk this path alone We need our friends to gather round We need words of praise and thanks We need silliness, and laughter Hope, and healing And so on this morning, As the sun continues its retreat We call each other in towards this light We say: Come closer, put your arms around me, let me hear your heart beat Let me remember how life In all its preciousness continues on As we kindle this flame We recall these words of Christian scripture: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” For this hour, may the light within each of us grow And may our spirits be Strengthened by the force of this community And our faith in the power of love to create Again, and yet again A new day |
Call to worship and Chalice Lighting, August 2013
We arrive with many stories. We come carrying so many gifts, heartbreaks, longings. We come craving words to tend our troubled souls, songs to salve our wearied spirits. For this hour, let us stir up our stories, breathe into them. Let us place them on the altar we create by way of our being together. Before their tender presence let us raise our voices in praise, in thanks, in protest, in grief. For this hour may all things which matter most come to the surface, let them be named and remembered. For this time, let us be alive to what is being born in us, in this moment, in this place. As we light our chalice, let its flame be a bright reminder of our living faith, vibrant and bold as it is in one moment, it is also always becoming something more, something new. For this hour, may we hear our faith's call into deeper partnership with that courageous and transformative love that holds the power towards a world of healing, wholeness, justice, and peace. May we hear its call to become yet again, love's people. My friends, let us begin our worship. |
Call to Worship, July 2013
Summer reaches its peak. The cooler weather of the fall months beckon. The school year approaches, and if we are teachers or have children or go to school ourselves, we are gearing up - literally and emotionally - to begin once again the rhythms of the classroom. Even if we are not, old habits come to us like air; we can't help feeling a certain kind of season is coming to an end And a new one about to begin. We sneak in a few last vacation days, a few more runs through the sprinkler, a couple more camping trips. Someone told me last week that it was basically August. I was appalled. In this space we reclaim the moment as it is right now. No need to rush ourselves somewhere else. Let us breathe, and give thanks, and lean in. Let us sing, many songs of friendship and comfort and the joy of being together. Let us rejoice for today, for the gift of being alive, for the precious time we have. Let us remember who we are, and all we hope to be My friends, let us worship together. |
Call to Worship - Superbowl Sunday
We begin our cheering early today. Before the coin toss, or the official kick-off. Before the clever commercials, Before the bowls of dip and potato chips, the high fiving or the passionate fervor. Our praise begins now. Our praise and thanks for the heroes of the day. Some of them right here, in this room. Some of them, sitting there, right beside you. No wonder we all feel a little star struck. Sitting here amongst our bold and brave friends. Here at this hour we come to give thanks for these teammates Who we look to for strength and support The stamina to continue on in this life The victories, small and large The sun shining, our breath in and out, this hour we have set aside For this "time out" we so often crave in our lives, Now here before us, a "pause" in the rush of life, a pause to remember ourselves, as we are, as we are yet to be. Come my friends, and let us worship together. |
Call to Worship and Chalice Lighting, December 2012
Our wish lists have a way of growing This time of year Prompted by friends who ask, what might we like? Or by advertisements coaxing otherwise unrealized desires In this place, on this cold morning, we gather To feel the warmth of community The evidence of fellow travelers Who walk with us And remind us We are enough Just as we are For this hour we have set aside May we kindle a greater flame May we weave a story that goes beyond wishing For things that keep us busy and distracted us from our greater calling Here may we tend to our hearts’ deepest longings And may our chalice burn brightly Showing us the way to the Love which holds us And will not let us go |