Gathering Music (Martha Larson) (Begins at 9:50)
Welcome and Announcements
Centering
Prelude
“Elegy” by Jules Massenet
Performed by Martha Larson
Chalice Lighting & Opening Words
Reading
from “Koviashuvik”
by Sam Wright
Opening Hymn
“We Are All Climbing Jacob’s Ladder”
#211 in Singing the Living Tradition
Words and music: African American Spiritual
Performed by Martha Larson
Led by Sandy Johnson
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
we are climbing Jacob’s ladder
we are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
we are climbing on.
Ev’ry round goes higher, higher …
If I stumble, will you help me? …
Though the road is steep and rugged …
Joys and Concerns
Musical Response (Martha Larson)
Offering
Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, fifty percent
of our Sunday plate collections for the month of August will be split among MACC Food Pantry,
Hockanum Valley Food Pantry, and CT Mutual Aid East of River Food Pantry.
Offertory Music
“Bantam Step” by Harry Jentes
Performed by Martha Larson
Reading
From “The Anubis Gates”
by Tim Powers
First Speaker
Second Speaker
Closing Hymn
“Dear Weaver of our Lives’ Design”
#22 in Singing the Living Tradition
Words: Nancy C. Dorian; Music: Nikolaus Herman
Performed by Martha Larson
Led by Sandy Johnson
Dear weaver of our lives’ design
whose patterns all obey
with skillful fingers gentle guide
the sturdy threads that will survive
the tangle of our days
Take up the fabric of our lives
with hands that gently hold;
bind in the ragged edge that care
would sunder and that pain would tear
and mend our rav’ling souls.
Let eyes that in the plainest cloth
a hidden beauty see;
discern in us our richest hues,
show us the patterns we may use
to set our spirits free.
Closing Words and Extinguishing the Chalice
Closing Circle
May faith in the spirit of life
And hope for the community of earth
And love of the light in each other
Be ours now, and in all the days to come.
