Gathering Music
Beethoven, Adagio Cantabile
from Sonata Pathetique
performed by Chris Crossgrove (piano)
Welcome and Announcements
Centering
Prelude
“All the Things You Are”
by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern
performed by Chris Crossgrove
Chalice Lighting and Opening Words
Opening Hymn
#18 “What Wondrous Love is This?”
American folk hymn, ad. by Connie Campbell Hart
Melody from The Southern Harmony, 1835
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul?
What wondrous love is this that brings my heart such bliss,
and takes away the pain of my soul, of my soul,
and takes away the pain of my soul.
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down beneath my sorrows ground,
friends to me gather’d round, O my soul, O my soul,
friends to me gather’d round, O my soul.
To love and to all friends I will sing, I will sing,
to love and to all friends I will sing.
To love and to all friends who pain and sorrow mend,
with thanks until the end I will sing, I will sing,
with thanks unto the end I will sing.
Reading
Love in the Complicated Places
Rev. Jo VonRue
spoken by Rev. Josh Pawelek
Musical Meditation (Chris Crossgrove)
“To a Wild Rose” by Edward MacDowell
performed by Chris Crossgrove
Joys and Concerns
Musical Meditation (Chris Crossgrove)
“Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet”
by Nino Rota & Henry Mancini
performed by Chris Crossgrove
Offering
Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, and in recognition of Black History Month, fifty percent of our Sunday plate collections for the month of February will go to Manchester’s African American and Black Affairs Council or AABAC.
AABAC is a community-based organization whose mission is to uphold all aspects of the lived experiences of Black people through advocacy, education, and community endeavors. AABAC strives to eliminate injustices experienced by Black people in Manchester, CT, through engagement with Manchester residents, community partners and allies.
Offering Music
“Azure-Te (Paris Blues)
by Bill Davis & Don Wolf
performed by Chris Crossgrove
Sermon
“The Spiritual Discipline of Love”
Rev. Josh Pawelek
Closing Hymn
#131 “Love Will Guide Us”
words by Sally Rogers
music: traditional, arr. by Betty A Wylder
Love will guide us, peace has tried us,
hope inside us will lead the way
on the road from greed to giving.
Love will guide us through the hard night.
If you cannot sing like angels,
if you cannot speak before thousands,
you can give from deep within you.
You can change the world with your love.
Love will guide us, peace has tried us,
hope inside us will lead the way
on the road from greed to giving.
Love will guide us through the hard night.
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.
