Covenant is the Cornerstone

Unitarian Universalism is built on the concept that we are a community that makes promises to one another about how we will be in community with one another. Covenant in religion is thousands of years old, and in Unitarian and Universalist faiths, covenant dates back far before we identified the Principles. Being a member of a Unitarian Universalist Church means we try to actively create space where others can thrive in community. We covenant to continually learn to do better and work together to gain new skills. We call one another back into covenant to support the collective creation of the world our Principles challenge us to build. Covenant is the beauty of our UU faith.

Welcome

 

Prelude    The Evening Star, Felix Mendelssohn, Performed by Ruben Piirainen, Music Dir. Unitarian Universalist Church West (Brookfield, WI)

 

Chalice Lighting     Love Is Our Greatest Purpose, Jay e. Abernathy Jr.

We affirm that love is our greatest purpose.
Accepting one another is the truest form of faithful living.
The search for truth is our constant star.
We pledge our hearts, minds, and hands:
To challenge injustice with courage;
To find hope in times of fear;
And to live out our Unitarian Universalist values every day as a beloved community.
Thus do we covenant with each other and with all that is sacred in life.

 

Hymn “When the Spirit Says Do”   (#1024 in Singing the Journey), Words & music: African American spiritual, arr. Mark Freundt. Vocals and piano by Ruben Piirainen, Music Director, Unitarian Universalist Church West (Brookfield, WI)

 

Gesture of friendship

 

 

Message for All Ages

 

Children’s Blessing

 

Offering
There are many ways we give to the life of this church and the monetary offering is just one of these ways.

Each month we share the generosity of our collection with a local partner.

This month’s partner is Feather-A-Nest which serves individuals and families transitioning from homelessness by preparing empty houses or apartments into welcoming homes using donated furniture and household goods.  Since April 2016, they have designed over 278 homes and dropped off items for an additional 78 homes.

Feather-A-Nest relies on financial and household goods donations. They are grateful and appreciate our support. For more information on how to donate to OBUUC or to Feather-A-Nest, please visit our church website OBUUC.org

 

Offertory Music River Flows in You, Yiruma, performed by Anna Kojovic-Frodl

 

 

Prayer/Meditation “In My Daydreams” by Reverend Theresa Ninán Soto

Moment of Quiet

 

Reading “Fitted for This Day” by Kimberly Quinn Johnson
We are the ones we have been waiting for.*
We are not perfect, but we are perfectly fitted for this day.
We are not without fault,
but we can be honest to face our past as we chart a new future.
We are the ones we have been waiting for.
May we be bold and courageous to chart that new future
May we have faith in a future that is not known
We are the ones we have been waiting for.*

 *the words of June Jordan in “Poem for South African Women,” which she presented at the U.N. on August 9, 1978

 

Covenant is the Cornerstone Heretics Illustration with Reverend Denise Cawley and Reverend Matthew Aspin (Reverend Matthew serves at Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society in Madison, WI)

 

Sermon Covenant is the Cornerstone by Rev. Denise Crawley

 

Hymn “Open My Heart” Words & music by Henry S. Flurry; #1013 in Singing the Journey), Performed by Susan T. Mashiyama.

 

Benediction

Chalice Extinguishing     “The Work We Share” by Krista Taves
It is our work, shared with each other in covenant,
That creates and sustains this beloved community.
We extinguish this chalice, but its light lives on
in the directions we have chosen today.
The light of this faith lives on in us, together,
in our hearts, minds, bodies and spirits.
Amen and Blessed Be

 

Postlude       Shine on Me – Led by Melanie DeMore

Shine on Me – Led by Melanie DeMore from Unitarian Universalist Assoc. on Vimeo.