Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) (begins at 9:50)
Welcome (Gina Campellone)
Announcements (Rev. Josh Pawelek)
Centering (Gina Campellone)
Prelude
“Better Things”
by Dar Williams
performed by Carole Capen-Kargher
Chalice Lighting and Opening Words
“Always there is a beginning”
Adapted from Edward Searl
#172 in Lifting Our Voices
Always there is a beginning—
A new day
A new month,
A new season,
A new year.
Forever the old passes away
And newness emerges
From the richness that was.
Nothing is ever lost
In the many changes
Time brings
What was, in some way,
Will be,
Though changed in form.
Always, there is a beginning—
A new day,
A new month
A new season.
A new year.
Opening Hymn
“Gather the Spirit”
by Jim Scott
#347 in Singing the Living Tradition
led by Carole Capen-Kargher
Gather the spirit, harvest the power.
Our sep’rate fires will kindle one flame.
Witness the mystery of this hour.
Our trials in this light appear all the same.
(Chorus)
Gather in peace, gather in thanks.
Gather in sympathy now and then.
Gather in hope, compassion and strength.
Gather to celebrate once again.
Gather the spirit of heart and mind.
Seeds for the sowing are laid in store.
Nurtured in love, and conscience refined,
with body and spirit united once more.
(Chorus)
Gather the spirit growing in all,
drawn by the moon and fed by the sun.
Winter to spring, and summer to fall,
the chorus of life resounding as one.
(Chorus)
New Member Welcome
This morning we welcome the following new members to our congregation:
Gina Mango
Maureen Flanagan
Ann Simon
Stephen Simon
Ginny Bennett
Robin Byrne
We also welcome Peg Darrah, who signed the membership book in May of 2020.
The Charge (Minister)
As you take up membership in the Unitarian Universalist Society: East, I charge you to share with us who you are. Share your creativity, your experiences, your questions, your doubts, your beliefs, and all your discoveries of life’s meaning. I charge you to shake us up with your ideas, to stir us up with your conscience, to inspire us with your actions, and to stimulate our hopes with your dreams of what life can be.
Congregational Welcome (Congregation)
We welcome you as companions in the search for truth and meaning. We invite you to share in our mission of caring for one another, encouraging each other in spiritual growth, working for justice and peace in the wider community, and living in harmony with the earth. We join our gifts with yours, trusting in the power of community to bring freedom, healing, and love.
New Member Affirmation (New members)
We join the Unitarian Universalist Society: East out of a desire and willingness to participate in a liberal religious congregation. We pledge to share our time, energy and gifts; to diligently seek our spiritual truths; and to strengthen the bonds of community.
Signing the Membership Book
Responsorial Hymn
“What is this Church?”
words adapted from Eugene Sander
music by Jean Sibelius
led by Rev. Josh Pawelek
What is this church?
A place of love and gladness
Where all may meet to seek the
common good
A source of strength to face each
doubt and sadness
Where every dream is known and
understood
What is this church? Ask those who came before
And found themselves by crossing
through its door.
Joys and Concerns
Offering
The recipients of our May community outreach offering are MARC, Inc. and MARCH, Inc.
Marc, Inc. provides advocacy, employment, residential, respite and retirement services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. March, Inc. provides residential programs and supportive living programs to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
Offering Music
“Something to Get Through”
by Dar Williams
performed by Carole Capen-Kargher
Homily “This is What Reopening Looks Like!” (Rev. Josh Pawelek and Gina Campellone)
Closing Hymn
“We Give Thanks”
by Wendy Luella Perkins
#1010 in Singing the Journey
led by Carol Capen-Kargher
Oh, we give thanks for this precious day,
For all gather’d here, and those far away;
For this time (food) we share with love and care,
Oh, we give thanks for this precious day.
Extinguishing the Chalice
Closing Circle
Postlude
Annual Meeting
