We welcome to UUCVille’s pulpit the Rev. Byron “Tyler” Coles, a member of the UUA’s Southern Region Congregational Life Staff.  As we wade into the waters of a new church year following what has been over a year and a half of heartache and uncertainty, Rev. Coles suggests we ask ourselves, “What is the Church to be and do in this time?” He invites us to join as a covenanted community to reflect on this question, speak honestly of our journey, and faithfully imagine a future to come.

Rev. Leia will also offer us a blessing of animals, in honor of the Day of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct 4).  Bring your favorite dog, cat, chicken, or other critter, to the Zoom screen for this celebration!

ORDER OF SERVICE 

Prelude   Welcome! Welcome!  by Clif Hardin         offered by the Community Choir
of UUCRockville (MD)

Welcome       Breck Gastinger, Worship Weaver     Pam McIntire, Board Greeter

Opening Hymn   Here We Have Gathered   by Alicia Carpenter
offered by Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara (CA)

Chalice Lighting           Xavier Mehta

Chalice Song Open My Heart by Henry Flurry      offered by Susan T. Mashiyama

Animal Blessing     The Rev. Leia Durland-Jones, Minister of Faith Development

Song  A Place in the Choir  by Bill Staines offered
by Peter and Annie Blood-Patterson

Invitation to the Offering       Breck Gastinger

Offertory   From You I Receive   Scott DeVeaux, UUCVille Director of Music

Sharing of Joys & Sorrows        Greg Townsend, Worship Weaver

Music Mediation        Scott DeVeaux

Reading   “Psalm 121: We Lift Up Our Weary Eyes” from Shelter in This Place: Meditations on 2020  by Rev. Ali KC Bell, Leia Durland-Jones, Breck Gastinger,
and Greg Townsend

Anthem The Bengsons – Hope Comes

Sermon    “To Be and to Do”    The Rev. Byron “Tyler” Coles, UUA Congregational Life

Hymn   Building a New Way  by Martha Sandefer  arranged by Barry Hall and
Bob Nicoll, music directors of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Grafton and Upton (MA) and offered by UUSGU singers  

Benediction and Chalice Extinguishing

 Postlude        Scott DeVeaux

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Many thanks to the tech team Sean Skally and Margaret Migas, and to Video Editor Ellie Ransom.

Meeting id:   95025058534

Call: 646-558-8656