5/2/21 “What Moves Us?” by Rev. Danielle Lindstrom

Welcome
It is good to be together this morning.
Welcome to you who come filled with joy.
Welcome to you who come with a broken heart.
Welcome to you who come with big questions.
Welcome to you who come with fear.
Welcome to you who come with curiosity.
Welcome to you who come filled with hope.
Welcome to all of who you are for this is one of the promises of our faith,
All of who we are is welcome in our co-created and sacred space.
Welcome to you who love and are loved.
It is good to be together.

Prelude 

 

Chalice Lighting by Katie Gelfand
We call forth the life of our faith by igniting our chalice.
This spark of new beginnings invites us into a sacred space
to reflect where we have been and where we are going.
Even knowing that this particular flame will intentionally end
with our ritual extinguishing, we fear not its end…
For we know, with brave hearts,
that from every ending of our lives,
We are sent forth to make a new beginning.

 

Hymn #131 Love Will Guide Us, Olympia Brown UU Church Choir

 

 

Gesture of Friendship

 

 

Message for All Ages  Readings from The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse, Charlie Mackesy 

Children’s Blessing

 

 

Offering
There are many ways we give to the life of Olympia Brown UU Church and our offering is just one of these ways. We are grateful for your generosity, care, and support of this community. 

As part of this congregation’s mission to be of service to our community, we support the work of the local organizations whose work furthers our mission.

This month our partner is the Racine Urban Garden Network promotes urban gardening. RUGN offers members the ability to rent gardening plots or establish plots in their neighborhood. Our goal is to provide people in Racine with education and tools to grow their own healthy food. At our gardens, we provide access to tools, water, soil, compost, and mulch. We also provide garden events and one-on-one advice and assistance. Since 2009, RUGN has provided resources for community gardeners and helped them establish community gardens in their own neighborhood. We will use donations to purchase garden tools, sheds, etc for current and future gardens. Thank you for your generosity. 

 

Offertory

 

Reading I Worried by Mary Oliver
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it and I am, well,
hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism,
lockjaw, dementia?
Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.

 

Sermon Rev. Danielle Lindstrom

 

Prayer/Meditation

 

Time of stillness and reflection

 

Hymn #1020  Woyaya, Olympia Brown UU Church Choir

 

Benediction
We have reflected on where we have been and where we are going. Woyaya.
Now we know that it is it is time for this particular flame to end,
and we fear not its end…
For we know, with brave hearts,
that from every ending of our lives
we are sent forth to make a new beginning.
Though our worship is over, our service begins.

Go forth in hope.
Go forth in love.
Go forth until we return again.

Postlude