Gathering Music
Welcome & Announcements
Centering
Prelude
"God is All, All is God"
by Mary Bopp
Chalice Lighting
Opening Hymn
#155 "Circle Round for Freedom"
by Linda Hirschhorn
Circle 'round for freedom, circle 'round for peace,
for all of us imprisoned, circle for release,
circle for the planet, circle for each soul,
for the children of our children, keep the circle whole.
Reading
From the 1836 essay "Nature"
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Read by Susan Barlow
Introductions, Joys and Concerns
Musical Response
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 July will be split among three area food pantries--East of the River Mutual Aid in East Hartford, Hockanum Valley Food Pantry in Vernon, and Manchester Area Conference of Churches in Manchester.
Offering Music
"Lawful Harmony of the World"
by Mary Bopp
Homily: Spinoza's God"
Closing Hymn
#1064 "Blue Boat Home"
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.
Closing Words
"The Outermost House"
by Henry Beston
Read by Susan Barlow
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.
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