As we approach the Summer Solstice, please join us in celebrating the season and the gifts of spending time outdoors.

We anticipate that this service will be both in-person and on Zoom. Click right here Sunday shortly before 10:00 a.m. to join via Zoom. Click here to read our protocols

“Sumer Is Icumen In”
Worship Leader: Karen Tyler
Greeter: Lois Reynolds

Order of Service
Sunday, June 18, 2023

Board Welcome & Announcements                         Leslie Kinney

Prelude    The Seasons: June                      Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
                  Eva Greene, piano

Chalice Lighting by Alice Berry                               Daniel Kasnitz
Children of the earth and sky, we are nurtured, sustained, given warmth and light from above and below. Supported by earth’s strong, firm crust, we build our homes, till the fields, plant our gardens and orchards. When we turn from self and seek to be aware, we will find holy light in human faces, in blossom, birdsong, and sky. Then earth is truly our home, and we are one with all earth’s creatures, Parents of earth’s children yet to be. (Alice Berry)

Lighting Our Children’s Chalice
We light this chalice to celebrate Unitarian Universalism. We are the church of the open minds. We are the church of the helping hands.  We are the church of the loving hearts.

Call to Worship                                                          Karen Tyler                                                   

Opening Hymn #38  “Morning Has Broken” 

Story For All of Us: “Outside In” by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby    read by Marty Shaw

Anthem: “A Pleasant Life” words by Sir Richard Fanshawe and Francis Beaumont, music and new words by Jay Althouse
 All Souls Choir, Tom Baehr, director

Offering shared with National Alliance on Mental Illness VT

Offertory:   Bondens Sang  [Farmer’s Song]          Edvard Grieg
Eva Greene, piano

Our Candles of Joys and Sorrows

Hymn #123 “Spirit of Life” 

Celebrating Our Religious Exploration (RE) Program      RE Committee and Children

Reading for the Summer Solstice
As we gather round the sacred fire of summer’s peak, hands joined, the ribbon of time may fold and suddenly we see many things at once: those from history who were burned, their stories lost, their wisdom silenced. Those who are currently persecuted, their voices crying out if only we will take time to look and listen. The steadily warming planet and how little time we have left to slow the burning. The wildfires that sweep across the land howling at us to pay attention, to act, to change our course. Let us spread our arms out under this great wide sky and let the magic of being alive fill us with fire. Let us lift our arms to the sun and be so restored and renewed by the heart of passion, the heat of longing, the warmth of pleasure. As the streaming light of purposeful joy replenishes our hearts, we may allow the wild magic of this time and space to restore our knowing that today is still fertile with possibility to do good work and to rejoice.
—Molly Remer © Mother Tongue Ink 2022

Hymn #140  “Surprised By Joy” 

Extinguishing the Chalice                                   Daniel Kasnitz        
The time of waning will soon be at hand, the days will begin togrow shorter, but the Summer is just beginning. With the blessings of those seen and unseen, we leave this place with joy and full hearts.

                                                                                                      

 
Closing Circle: “Carry the flame of peace and love
Until we meet again.” (sung two times)

Benediction                                                                            Karen Tyler