*Gathering Hymn                                             Common Ground                                 Ivan Lins, Paul Winter & Jim Scott

                                                                             In a circle of friends,

                                                                             In a circle of sound,

                                                                             All our voices will blend

                                                                             When we touch common ground.

 

Prelude                                                               Classical Guitar Improvisation (9am)                                       Jim Scott

                                                                             Blessing (11am)                                                                    Emily Crocker

 

Welcome                                                             Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur

 

Chalice Lighting                                                John Zinner

 

*Opening Hymn                                                #347 Gather the Spirit

 

*Covenant                                                          Love is the doctrine of this church.

                                                                             The quest for truth is its sacrament,

                                                                             And service is its prayer.

                                                                             To dwell together in peace,

                                                                             To seek knowledge in freedom,

                                                                             To serve humankind in fellowship,

                                                                             Thus do we covenant with each other.

 

Offering for the Westside Food Bank and Turning Point

 

*Hymn of Praise                                                 From all that dwell below the skies

                                                                              Let songs of hope and faith arise

                                                                              Let peace, goodwill on earth be sung

                                                                              Through every land, by every tongue.

 

Time for All Ages                                               Rainforest                                                                                      Jim Scott

 

Song of Blessing                                              Go Your Way In Peace                                                                 Jim Scott

                                                                             Go your way in peace, wander as you may.

                                                                             Blessed is the path you take, may love guide you on your way.

                                                                             Comfort find in truth, may your struggles cease.

                                                                             May the fire within your heart light the way of peace.

 

Life Together

 

Offering                                                               In Our Hands                                                                                Jim Scott

 

Devotional Time

 

Silence

 

Sung Response                                               I Am Waiting                                                                                  Jim Scott

 

Responsive Reading                                      #490 Wild Geese                                                                      Mary Oliver

 

Music for the Morning                                     Harmony                                                                                        Jim Scott

 

Sermon                                                             To Bless or Curse the World                   Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur

 

*Closing Hymn                                                 #1059 May Your Life Be As a Song

 

*Benediction

 

Musical Response                                          May Your Life Be As a Song Reprise (9am)                           Jim Scott

                                                                           Meditation (11am)                               Mary Goetze & Rev. Bill Breeden

 

*Please stand in body or in spirit

 

 

 

We are very grateful to have composer, guitarist, singer, poet, and activist, Jim Scott, with us this

morning as our guest musician and worship leader. Jim Scott has brought his contemporary and

multicultural music to more than 600 UU congregations over three decades. His much-loved “Gather the

Spirit” and a number of others are included in the UU hymnbooks. Former Co-chair of the UU Ministry

for the Earth, Jim was also involved in creating the "Green Sanctuary" program. With degrees from

Eastman School of Music and Berklee College, Jim has dedicated much of his musical work to celebrating

ecology, peace and justice. His long time friend and mentor Pete Seeger called Jim "some kind of a

magician."

 

Thank you to our service participants: Nancy Babbitt, Steve DePaul, Sanna Egan, Barbara Gibbs,

Phyllis Kory, Robert Kory, Kris Langabeer, Carrie Lauer, Katie Malich, Dan Patterson, Kit Shaw, Sue

Stoyanoff, Jila Tayefehnowrooz & Linda van Ligten.

 

This month, 60% of our offering will go to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) to

advance human rights and social justice in the United States and around the world. The work of the

UU Service Committee is built on the conviction that all people are entitled to basic human rights,

which transcend divisions of class, race, nationality, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, and

gender. We envision a world free from oppression and injustice, where all can realize their full human

rights.