September 7, 2014

 

 

Gathering Hymn                                     Surprised by joy no song can tell, no thought can compass, here we stand

                                                               to celebrate eternal love, to reach for one another’s hand.

 

                                                              When we are lonely and afraid, in need of kindness, here we stand

                                                              to celebrate eternal love, to reach for one another’s hand.

 

Call to Worship                                       #437 Let Us Worship

 

Chalice Lighting                                      Patricia Wright

 

Prelude                                                   Introduction from Porgy and Bess                              George Gershwin

 

Opening Hymn                                        Foundations (words below)

 

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 and Turning Point

 

Time for All Ages                                         Brave Raven by Aaron McEmrys

                                                                    told by Catherine Farmer Loya, Director of Religious Education

 

Song of Blessing                                          As you leave this friendly place, love give light to ev’ry face.

                                                                     May the kindness which you learn, light your hearts ‘til you return.

 

Life Together

 

Offertory                                                        I Will Be Earth                                                           Gwyneth Walker

 

Devotional Time

 

Anthem                                                          Love from Four Sacred Songs                                 Dominick DiOrio

 

Message                                                        Love Reaches Out                                   Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur

 

Closing Hymn                                                #1015 I Know I Can

 

Benediction

 

Musical Response                                          Love is…                                                                  Marjorie Herman

 

 

Service participants: Denise Helton, Sanna Egan, Tom Foretich, Dave Hallinan, Patrick Meighan, Greg

Wood, Linda van Ligten, Robert Kory, Phyllis Kory, Alicia van Ooyen, Karen Patterson, Peggy Rhoads,

Nancy Babbitt, Rima Snyder

 

Today’s floral dedication is in honor of Robert Runk, beloved brother of Marguerite Spears and uncle of

Diana Spears.

 

Choir: Soprano - Lauren Callendar, Rebecca Crawford, Diane Fletcher-Hoppe, Tonya Hylton, Cindy

Kelly, Kim Miller; Alto - Sue Bickford, Shelly Blaisdell, Teri Bond, Janet Goodwin, Jyvonne Haskin, Karen

Hsu Patterson, Rima Snyder; Tenor - Eric Huang, Liam Mina, Gabriel Paredes, Richard Scher; Bass - Tom

Ahern, Norb Gallery, James Hayden, Larry Howard, Brigham Johnson.

 

Our Community Offering this month will go to the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN).

Founded by a group of Salvadoran refugees whose mission was to secure legal status for the thousands of

Central Americans fleeing civil war, CARECEN received 501C(3) status in 1983. Over the past 30 years,

CARECEN has transformed itself from a small grassroots group to the largest Central American

organization in the country. A current focus of CARECEN’s work is to support unaccompanied immigrant

children with legal representation, health and counseling services, and advocacy.

 

       Order of Service                                                   August 24, 2014

 

 

*** Gathering Hymn                                       Bind us together,

                                                                           Oh bind us together with cords that cannot be broken.

                                                                           Bind us together,

                                                                          Oh, bind us together,

                                                                          Oh, bind us together with love.

 

*** Please stand in body or spirit.

Welcome                                                         Dan Nannini

 

Prelude                                                            Hungarian Dance, #5                                by Brahms, arr. Ryan Whyman

 

Chalice Lighting

 

*** Opening Hymn                                        #1 May Nothing Evil Cross This Door

 

*** 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.

                                                                                                                                                      - from the Genevan Psalter

 

Offering for the Westside Food Bank

 

Story for All Ages                                            "Silver Fox and Coyote Create Earth"                       Rev. Lissa Gundlach

 

Song of Blessing                                            Go now in peace,

                                                                           Go now in peace,

                                                                           May the spirit of love surround you

                                                                           As you go, as you go

                                                                           On your way

                                                                                                                                                                             - Natalie Sleeth

 

A Time for Community

 

Offertory                                                             Clockwork                                                                               Ryan Whyman

 

Devotional Time

           Pastoral Prayer

           Silence

           Sung Response #95                           There is More Love Somewhere

 

Responsive Reading #591                            I Call That Church Free

 

Music for the Morning                                      Remember Me                                                                       Ryan Whyman

 

 

*** Closing Hymn #126                                  Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

 

Please remain standing in body or spirit and hold hands for the benediction.

*** Benediction

 

Please be seated for the postlude.

Postlude                                                             Makin’ Mischief                                                                      Ryan Whyman

 

Extinguishing the Chalice

 

 

Greeters:                                                         Glen Howell, Steve Young & Michael Young

Ushers:                                                            Dan Patterson & Ned Wright

Coffee:                                                              Nancy Howell & Sylvia Young

Bookstore:                                                       Nancy Babbit

Backyard Bounty:                                           Sue Stoyanoff

 

We are extremely appreciative of our guest musicians from The Whyman Project for their music this morning!

The Whyman Project is a unique collaboration of four string players and a rhythm section. Each accomplished

in their own right, these musicians are based in Los Angeles and came together to play original music and

arrangements by Ryan Whyman. Crossing genres between classical, jazz, pop, rock, and film music, Ryan brings his own unique twist to everything, redefining and expanding the piano quintet and jazz genres. The Whyman Project has performed at coffee shops, weddings, fundraisers, and recital halls around Los Angeles and Orange County, always to an enthusiastic audience. In May of 2014, The Whyman Project was chosen as one of the winners of the prestigious Beverly Hills Music in the Mansion Auditions. The ensemble features the fine musicianship of Mary Keating, Jordan Slocum, Brandon Encinas, Billy Tobenkin, Ryan Whyman, Rodrigo

Moreno, and Michael Enriquez. For more information, feel free to visit www.TheWhymanProject.com.

 

Reverend Lissa Gundlach is Assistant Minister for Congregational Life at the Unitarian Church of All Souls in

New York City. Lissa received her BA in religious studies from Vassar College and her Masters in Divinity

degree from Union Theological Seminary. In addition to the worship arts, Lissa's ministry at All Souls includes

pastoral care and counseling, spiritual development including small group ministries, and social justice,

(advocacy and education, and community service). It's a terrific pleasure to host her while she is visiting the

West Coast this summer.

 

This month, 60% of the non-pledge offering will go to Camp DeBenneville Pines. DeBenneville Pines is a UU

camp in the San Bernardino National Forest, about 90 miles east of Los Angeles. Since 1962, Unitarian

Universalists have gathered in the pines to experience the wonder of the natural world while deepening their

connections to their faith and one another. This year the all-church camp weekend will be September 12-14,

and registration is now open. Please register with our Camp Dean, Jacki Weber. As with all church programs, if

the registration fee is a barrier to your participation, please let Jacki or the minister know, as scholarships are available, jacki.weber@gmail.com.

 

Order of Service                                                              August 10, 2014

 

 

*** Gathering Hymn                               Oh, we give thanks for this precious day.

                                                                   For all gathered here, and those far away.

                                                                   For this time we share, with love and care.

                                                                   Oh, we give thanks, for this precious day.

 

*** Please stand in body or spirit.

 

Welcome                                                  Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur

 

Prelude                                                     "Ke aloha o ke akua" (I Corinthians 13)                                            Traditional

 

Chalice Lighting                                       Barbara Kernochan and Pat Gomez, Intern Minister Committee

 

*** Opening Hymn                                   #1 May Nothing Evil Cross This Door

 

*** 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.                       – based on Isaac Watts

 

Offering for the Westside Food Bank

 

Time for All Ages                                      Welcoming Nica Eaton-Guinn, Intern Minister

                                                                     Catherine Farmer Loya, Director of Religious Education

 

Song of Blessing                                    Go now in peace, go now in peace,

                                                                    May the spirit of love surround you

                                                                    As you go, as you go

                                                                    On your way.                                                                                 – Natalie Sleeth

 

A Time for Community

 

Pulpit Message                                        All Church Weekend at Camp De Benneville Pines, Sept 14-16

                                                                    Jacki Weber, Dean

 

Offertory                                                    "Hana Song"                                                                                   Pandanus Club

 

Devotional Time

          Pastoral Prayer

          Silence

          Sung Response                             #123 Spirit of Life

 

Reading                                                     from The Wonder of Aging by Michael Gurian

 

Music for the Morning                              "Lei Hali’a"                                                                                      Reichel, Keali’i

 

Introducing Our Speakers                       Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur

 

Reflection                                                   Joanna Woods-Marsden

 

Sung Response                                       #331 Life is the Greatest Gift of All

           

                                                                     Life is the greatest gift of all the riches on this earth;

                                                                     Life and its creatures, great and small, of high and lowly birth:

                                                                     So treasure it and measure it with deed of shining worth

 

Reflection                                                   Joe Engleman

 

Sung Response                                       Mind is the brightest gift of all, its thoughts no barrier mars;

                                                                     It seeks creation's hidden plan, its quest surmounts all bars;

                                                                     It reins the wind, it chains the storm, it weighs the outmost stars.

 

Reflection          “From Generation to Generation”       Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur

 

*** Closing Hymn                                     We are of life, its shining gift, the measure of all things,

                                                                     up from the dust our temples lift, our vision soars on wings;

                                                                     For seed and root, for flower and fruit, our grateful spirit sings.

 

Please remain standing in body or spirit and hold hands for the benediction.

 

*** Benediction

 

Please be seated for the postlude.

 

Postlude                                                    "He mele no kakahiaka"                                                                     Traditional

 

Extinguishing the Chalice

 

Greeters:                                                     Kris Langabeer, James Duckman & Jila Tayefehnowrooz

Ushers:                                                       Barbara Kernochan & Dave Hallinan

Coffee:                                                         Robert & Phyllis Kory, Linda van Ligten, Sanna Egan

Bookstore:                                                   Nancy Babbitt

Backyard Bounty:                                       Melinda Ewen

 

We welcome students from Halau Hula ‘o Imi ‘Ike (Hula School of the Seekers of Knowledge)! The students of Halau Hula ‘o Imi ‘Ike have been studying dance under the direction of their Kumu Hula (hula master) for nearly 25 years. The hula school originally operated as the drama club that put on shows for St. Augustine Elementary School in Culver City. However, a small but very persistent group of students decided to continue their studies in Hawaiian culture, dance, and language. From this group of dedicated students the hula school has grown to over 50 members. UU Santa Monica church members Nalani Santiago-Kalmanson and Buudha Quant are active members in the halau and are please to share their aloha this Sunday. Nalani joined the halau as a student several years ago to continue studying Hawaiiana. She is especially excited to learn lei making and ‘olelo (Hawaiian language). Buudha is an ‘olapa or graduated dancer with the halau after 15 years of study. Along with dancing he is also a student of Hawaiian chant and traditional instruments. Joining them are their hula sisters Chery Mallare, Hilary Carreon, Christine Chupek and Cristina Daco. Halau Hula ‘o Imi ‘Ike is holding its semi-Annual Ho’ike (recital) Friday, September 19 in at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Nalani and

Buudha will be available for more information regarding their Ho’ike.

 

This month, 60% of the non-pledge offering will go to Camp DeBenneville Pines. DeBenneville Pines is a UU camp in the San Bernardino National Forest, about 90 miles east of Los Angeles. Since 1962, Unitarian Universalists have gathered in the pines to experience the wonder of the natural world while deepening their connections to their faith and one another. This year the all-church camp weekend will be September 12-14, and registration is now open. Please register with our Camp Dean, Jacki Weber. As with all church programs, if the registration fee is a barrier to your participation, please let Jacki or the minister know, as scholarships are

available, jacki.weber@gmail.com.

                 

                    Order of Service                                                             July 27, 2014

 

 

*** Gathering Hymn                                     Bind us together,

                                                                        Oh bind us together with cords that cannot be broken.

                                                                        Bind us together,

                                                                        Oh, bind us together,

                                                                        Oh, bind us together with love.

 

*** Please stand in body or spirit.

 

Welcome                                                         Ian Dodd

 

Prelude                                                            Morning Peace                                                              Daniel Gledhill

 

Chalice Lighting

 

*** Opening Hymn                                         #131 Love Will Guide Us

 

*** 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.

                                                                                                                                                      - from the Genevan Psalter

 

Offering for the Westside Food Bank

 

Story for All Ages                                                Earrings!                                                                             by Judith Viorst

 

Song of Blessing                                               Go now in peace,

                                                                              Go now in peace,

                                                                               May the spirit of love surround you

                                                                               As you go, as you go

                                                                               On your way                                                                       - Natalie Sleeth

 

A Time for Community

 

Offertory                                                                  Canon in D                                                                - Johann Pachelbel

 

Devotional Time

       Pastoral Prayer                                            The Stream of Life                                                - Rabindranath Tagore

       Silence

        Sung Response                                         #108 How Can I Keep from Singing?

                                                                                  (My Life Flows On in Endless Song)

 

Responsive Reading                                          #530 Out of the Stars

 

Music for the Morning                                          Reflections II                                                                     Joe Engleman

 

 

*** Closing Hymn                                                 #118 This Little Light of Mine

 

Please remain standing in body or spirit and hold hands for the benediction.

 

*** Benediction

 

Please be seated for the postlude.

 

Postlude                                                                  “Blue Monk”                                                                  - Thelonius Monk

 

Extinguishing the Chalice

 

 

Greeters:                                                                 Beverly Alison, Teri Bond, Steve Young, Michael Young

Ushers:                                                                    Tom Foretich & Patrick Meighan

Coffee:                                                                      Sylvia Young

Bookstore:                                                               Nancy Babbit

Backyard Bounty:                                                    Roberta Frye

 

The Reverend Anne Felton Hines recently retired after over 30 years of parish ministry -- all within our Pacific

Southwest District. Her most recent ministry was with Emerson UU Church in Canoga Park, where she was the

longest-serving minister they'd ever had; they honored her by designating her Minister Emerita. She was born

and raised in Pasadena, and has two adult children and two teenage grandchildren. Besides ministry and her

family, she loves playing classical piano.

 

We are very happy to welcome Joe Engleman’s musical contributions to this morning’s service!

 

Floral Dedication for Joanne Brownlie: "Dear Mommy, Happy Birthday! From your Loving Daughter, Beth and

Son, Tom, and Son-in-Law, Bryan - and your devoted grandkids, Alex, Spencer and Ian. Thank you for making

our lives so rich and wonderful! Let's Partay!"

 

This month, 60% of the non-pledge offering will go to Step up on Second. Step up on Second provides help,

hope and a home for individuals affected by mental illness. Each day, Step Up sees 100 individuals and offers 22 programs in a continuum of care, all free of charge. For over a decade, volunteers from our church have served a meal to residents at Step Up on Second on the 4th Saturday of the month. To join the Hunger Task Force and volunteer, please contact Rhonda Peacock: uurhonda@gmail.com.

a meal to residents at Step Up on Second on the 4th Saturday of the mo