March 6, 2016                                                                                                      Mortality: The Practice of Being Alive

 

*Gathering Hymn                                       Gracias por el amor                                                  arr. William James Ross

                                                                      Gracias por el amor del cielo, gracias por el inmenso mar,

                                                                      Gracias por el cantar del bosque. ¡Aleluya!

                                                                      Gracias por este nuevo día, gracias por nuestra gran unión,

                                                                      Gracias por todas las bondades. ¡Aleluya!

 

Prelude                                                         Leading Pines, Chasing Fights                                                   Ned Durrett

 

Welcome

 

Opening Words                                          from Meditations on Women Who Do Too Much             Diane Ackerman

                                                                       I don’t want to get to the end of my life

                                                                       and find that I have lived just the length of it.

                                                                       I want to have lived the width of it, as well.

 

Chalice Lighting                                           YRUU Youth Group

 

*Opening Hymn                                          #34 Though I May Speak With Bravest Fire

 

*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.

 

*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.

 

Offering for the Westside Food Bank

 

Time for All Ages                                         Pouring Ourselves Out                                           Rev. Tom Owen-Towle

 

Song of Blessing                                         This Little Light of Mine                                                                 Traditional

                                                                        This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…

                                                                        Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine...

 

Life Together

 

Offering                                                         Edgemont                                                                                        Ned Durrett

 

Devotional Time

 

Sung Response                                          #301 Touch the Earth, Reach the Sky

 

Reading                                                       Aging                                                                                              George Carlin

 

Music for the Morning                               What No One Seems to Know                                                      Ned Durrett

 

Sermon                                                       Graying Gracefully                                                      Rev. Tom Owen-Towle

 

*Closing Hymn                                          #23 Bring Many Names

 

*Benediction                                               To Live In This World                                                                     Mary Oliver

                                                                      To live in this world you must be able to do three things:

                                                                      To love what is mortal;

                                                                      to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it;

                                                                      And, when the time comes to let it go,

                                                                      To let it go.

 

Musical Response                                     In Ronda                                                                                            Ned Durrett

 

*Please stand in body or in spirit

 

Greeters:                                                       Tom Foretich, Barbara Gibbs & Denise Helton

Ushers:                                                         Steve DePaul, Tom Early, Linda Van Ligten & Greg Wood

Coffee:                                                          Deirdre Dietel, Peggy Rhoads, Kit Shaw & Alicia Van Ooyen

Bookstore:                                                   Mark Warkentin

 

Today 60% of our non-pledge offering will go to WISE and Healthy Aging, a multi-service,

non-profit organization serving older adults and their families and caregivers throughout Los Angeles

County. Headquartered in Santa Monica, WISE and Healthy Aging enhances the independence,

dignity, and quality of life of older adults through leadership, advocacy, and innovative services.

 

 

The Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle, in his 75 th year, considers himself on the homestretch of life’s journey.

He has been a parish minister since 1967 and is the author of two dozen books on personal

relationships and spiritual growth. Tom and his life-partner, The Rev. Dr. Carolyn Sheets

Owen-Towle, are the active parents of four children and seven grandchildren. Tom is a guitarist and

parlor magician, who currently sings with seniors, mentors children and youth-at-risk, and volunteers

with San Diego’s homeless. Tom considers it a privilege and joy to return to our Santa Monica

congregation. He will have several of his books available for purchase, including HOMESTRETCH: The

Art of Finishing Life Well.

 

Ned Durrett is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist from South Carolina that grew up watching his mother

minister to congregations all over the Southeast. His southern roots can be found in his preacher’s

tongue and garage-party swagger, but it's the honest emotion pouring from every song that makes

every person he meets family and every place he plays home. More information about Ned Durrett

and his band, Ned and the Dirt, can be found at www.nedandthedirt.com. Please stop by the music

table in Forbes Hall after the service to take a look at Ned and the Dirt’s brand new EP and other

albums.