September 24, 2023: Who Is Welcome Here?
Reverend Connie Grant
Jason Michálek, Worship Associate
Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
We say “all are welcome,” and we mean it! Are there ways to truly welcome all people so that they not only hear it, but also feel the welcome?
View the video archive of this service here:
Order of Service
Our order of service is available both here on our website and in print.Ringing of the World Bell
Prelude
Ray Fellman, piano
Welcome & Announcements
Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
Land Acknowledgement
Lighting the Chalice Flame
"For all who are here and all who are not" by Erik Walker Wikstrom
Stephanie Kimball
Emily and Julia Phelps
Opening Words
Reverend Connie Grant
Opening Hymn
#300 "With Heart and Mind"
Story
"The Big Umbrella" by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates
Religious Education for Children:
Childcare is available from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in Room 108.
Ages 3-6 meet for Spirit Play in Room 105
and ages 7-12 meet for Kids' Club in Room 208
Children may be picked up at these rooms at 11:30 a.m.
Musical Interlude
Ray Fellman, piano
Ministerial Search Committee Moment
Denise Breeden-Ost
Reflection
"Creating a Community of Welcome"
Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
Pastoral Prayer and Meditation
"Adventurers Called Forth in Spirit" by Sheldon Bennett
Offertory
Ray Fellman, piano
During the Offertory, you are invited to silently light a candle to represent a joy or sorrow in your life.
You are invited to participate in this morning’s offering by contributing as the basket passes or online at uucb.churchcenter.com/giving. You may make a non-pledge gift or a contribution towards your annual pledge, or both, at that site. This fiscal year, 25% of our non-pledge Sunday offerings will be given to All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center, which provides cloth and disposable diapers/wipes, pregnancy tests, feeding supplies, and other essentials to families in need. See alloptionsprc.org for more information.
Reading
"Purpose" by Erik Walker Wikstrom
Jason Michálek, Worship Associate
Gift of Music
"In Meeting We Are Blessed" by Troy Robertson, words by R. Gatsnahos and John Donne
Colleen Haas, djembe
UUCB Choir
Susan Swaney, Music Director
Sermon
"Who Is Welcome Here?"
Reverend Connie Grant
Closing Hymn
#354 "We Laugh, We Cry"
Extinguishing the Chalice Flame
"Those we have yet to meet" by Brian Kiely
Benediction
Choral Benediction
"Sawabona" by Jason Shelton
“Sawabona” is a traditional Zulu greeting, roughly translated as “I see you.” The traditional response is “sikhona,” which means “I am here.” This greeting and response communicates the essential connectedness of all beings, succinctly captured by the Zulu word “ubuntu” - ”I am because we are.”
