top of page
Writer's pictureuuseoffice

"Earth Day and the Arts: We Won't Give Up!" -- UUSE Virtual Worship, April 21, 2024


Gathering Music


Welcome and Announcements


Centering


Prelude

"Big Yellow Taxi"

Words and Music by Joni Mitchell

performed by Andy Ricci


Chalice Lighting and Opening Words

"As surely as we belong to the universe"

by Margaret A. Keip


Introduction to the Service


Opening Hymn

#1064 "Blue Boat Home"

Words: Peter Mayer

Music: Roland Hugh Prichard, adapted by Peter Mayer


Though below me, I feel no motion standing on these mountains and plains.

Far away from the rolling ocean still my dry land heart can say:

I've been sailing all my life now, never harbor or port have I known.

The wide universe is the ocean I travel, and the earth is my blue boat home.


Sun my sail and moon my rudder as I ply the starry sea,

leaning over the edge in wonder, casting questions into the deep.

Drifting here with my ship's companions, all we kindred pilgrim souls,

making our way by the lights of the heavens in our beautiful blue boat home.


I give thanks to the waves upholding me, hail the great winds urging me on,

greet the infinite sea before me, sing the sky my sailor's song:

I was born up on the fathoms, never harbor or port have I known.

The wide universe is the ocean I travel, and the earth is my blue boat home.


Story

"Change Sings -- A Children's Anthem"

by Amanda Gorman, ill. by Loren Long

spoken by Emmy Galbraith


Joys and Concerns


Musical Interlude


Offering

Our community outreach offering for April is dedicated to the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network or IREJN. IREJN is Connecticut's only faith-based environmental non-profit organization. Committed to justice and grounded in hope, IREJN is a unifying voice dedicated to positive, hopeful action on behalf of the earth, the one thing we all share and the one place we all call home. Their mission is to inspire and equip Connecticut's religious communities and their spiritual allies to protect our planet through education, engagement, and advocacy.


Offering Music

"Hymn to Gaia"

by Mary Bopp


Homily

Janet Heller

with words from Cory Clark, Nancy Madar and Laurel Hennebury


Video

"Won't Give Up"

by Pattie Gonia, Yo-Yo Ma, and Quinn Christopherson


Congregational Sing: "Won't Give Up" Chorus

I won't give up for a minute

Never giving up on you

Never giving up on you


We won't give up for a minute

Never giving up on you

Never giving up on you


Closing Words

Excerpts from "Earthrise"

by Amanda Gorman


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.

42 views0 comments

Opmerkingen


Opmerkingen zijn uitgezet.
bottom of page